For five years, Hakeem ran a PalmPay POS business in Ilorin, Kwara State, processing cash withdrawals, transfers, bill payments and airtime purchases for his community. Today, he is a data professional with training in Data Science and AI-powered Business Analysis, demonstrating how entrepreneurial experience can serve as a launchpad for career growth in Nigeria’s challenging job market.
With youth unemployment affecting nearly 80 million young Nigerians, according to the 2025 State of The Nigerian Youth Report, Hakeem’s journey reflects a broader trend where self-employment and entrepreneurship provide pathways for earning, gaining experience and building skills for the future. Brandspur Brand News understands that his transition from agent to analyst illustrates how technology platforms can enable not just income generation but professional development.
Hakeem started his business with a simple goal: serve his community while creating an income for himself. But through daily transactions, he developed practical skills in customer service, cash management and problem-solving that proved transferable beyond the POS stand. In a recent social media post, he reflected on the trust he built with customers, noting that people walked up to his stand expecting fast, secure and reliable transactions, and consistently delivering on that promise helped him build lasting relationships in his community.
While running his business, Hakeem earned an HND in Accounting, strengthening his foundation in financial management. He then completed training in Data Science and AI-powered Business Analysis, acquiring the technical skills that have opened new career possibilities. On the surface, these may seem like very different competencies, but for Hakeem, they are all connected by ambition for continuous learning, for actively creating opportunities, and for using technology to solve local problems.
Chika Nwosu, speaking on behalf of PalmPay, said the company remains committed to its brand promise of supporting ambitions by understanding the challenges Nigerians face and providing solutions that enable more people to participate in the economy, whether through access to financial services or pathways for growth. He noted that PalmPay will continue creating opportunities for people to pursue their ambitions, and that Hakeem’s journey is a powerful reminder of what that can look like in real life.
An opportunity to earn became an opportunity to gain experience. That experience became a foundation for further education and new skills. Those skills are now helping Hakeem pursue possibilities beyond where he started, proving that ambition compounds when given a starting point.
